You may have already voted by the time you read his but if not, the startling reason why you should vote NO on the School Board property tax referendum showed up in your mail box this week. 

It was not a political ad or a slick flyer. It was that friendly letter from Diane Nelson, Pinellas County Tax Collector with the words TAX BILL ENCLOSED. 

A lot of people don't bother looking at the details, especially if your property tax is paid from an escrow managed by your mortgage company. You only get concerned if the mortgage company calls you needing more money to cover the bill.

Don't be too surprised if they call soon. 

Well you might want to take a look. On my property tax bill the School Board gets about 49% of the total amount. 

That's right 49%. Not for public safety or public infrastructure but for what continues to be a failing school system. 

 You can go to the Pinellas County School Board Web site and read all about the referendum. After you do that ask yourself these questions:

• Shouldn't they be doing that with the funding they get from the State mandated property tax. 
• Why are they paying teachers from a sunset referendum source? Could be because that makes it tougher for you to vote NO.
• How many of these programs do students really need to compete in today's world. 

Granted the majority of the property tax that goes to schools is mandated by the state, but that Referendum question all the way down at the very bottom of the ballot covers the rest. 

Do you think we are getting our money's worth? I don't. Take a look at what they laughing call the TAJ short for Taj Mahal. I'm not laughing. Are you? 

We are way past the time the Pinellas County School System needs to live within its budget. They won't do it without your help so now is the time to VOTE NO  and stop additional funding for an over bloated in effective school system. 

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.